SPRING • 2014 A PUBLICATION FROM KENRICK-GLENNON SEMINARY

Preparing for a Life of Pastoral Ministry “Let your heart be the more closely united to Christ’s heart, full of mercy and love. Herein lies the secret of the fruitfulness of a disciple of the Lord!” ~Pope Francis

CONTENTS 4

Pastoral Formation: Becoming True Shepherds of Souls Seminarians make connections with parishioners from the Archdiocese of St. Louis through their pastoral ministry assignments.

6 Building the Church

with Generosity 7 Homiletics: The Art of Preaching 8 Priest Practicum 9 An Interview with Fr. Tom Molini 10 The Heart of Catechesis:

Jesus Christ 11 Community Notes 14

FROM THE PRESIDENT-RECTOR

Holy Land Retreat & Pilgrimage

Deacons renew baptismal promises in the Jordan River during their recent trip to the Holy Land.

Dear Friends, Christ’s Peace! The supreme law is to love the Lord your God wholeheartedly and to love your neighbor as yourself. This is at the heart of seminary formation. As our seminarians fall in love with God and develop a prayerful relationship with Him, they become better witnesses to the transforming power of encountering Christ’s love. This issue of the Herald focuses on one of the four dimensions of seminary formation: pastoral formation. This is where priestly formation reaches a culmination and when the seminarian enters into communion with the love of Christ, the Good Shepherd. Pastoral formation seeks to integrate the other dimensions of formation (intellectual, human, and spiritual) so that the priest can be an effective instrument of pastoral charity for the mission, message, and person of Jesus Christ. St. John Vianney said, “The priest is not a priest for himself; he is for you.” This is one of the reasons why real-life ministry experiences are central to the pastoral formation program at Kenrick-Glennon Seminary. All of our seminarians participate in experiences of ministry that foster a shepherd’s heart and teach the seminarians to imitate Christ. As we journey together in faith, I invite you to pray with me for our future priests. As Pope Francis recently stated, “Behind and before every vocation to the priesthood or the consecrated life, there is always the strong and intense prayer of someone: a grandmother, a grandfather, a mother, a father, a community.” Your intercession will strengthen our seminarians as they prepare to joyfully give their lives in service of Christ and His Church through the priesthood.

Cover: Deacon Conor Sullivan, Theology IV – St. Louis, baptizes Willow Kathe Sommer, at the Church of the Immacolata.

In the Sacred Heart,

Cover photography by Lisa Johnston Contributing Photographers: Deacon Benjamin Boyd, Theology IV– Omaha

Father John Horn, S.J.

Jonathan Dizon, Theology III – Kansas City, KS

President-Rector

Lisa Johnston Daniel Kavanagh, Theology III – St. Louis Fr. David Skillman Deacon Thomas Vordtriede, Theology IV– St. Louis Deacon Ryan Weber, Theology IV – St. Louis

FROM THE ARCHBISHOP

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, As Christians, we have the opportunity to walk with Jesus and form a personal relationship with Him. This relationship is both a privilege and a challenge; holiness and discipleship should not be kept to oneself. In his first encyclical Lumen Fidei, Pope Francis said, “Those who have opened their hearts to God’s love, heard his voice and received his light, cannot keep this gift to themselves.” When we have a relationship with Jesus, He lets us know that we are loved and He wants us to share that love with others. By letting Christ’s light and love shine through us in our daily lives, we help others to see the joy and freedom that come from discipleship. Each young man in formation at Kenrick-Glennon Seminary is called in a special way to conform his own heart to the heart of Christ, and, as a result, to proclaim His Gospel and carry His healing ministry to all they encounter. This is one of the central aspects of priestly formation and the essence of the seminary’s mission. Christ, the Good Shepherd, taught, healed and loved everyone – not just His friends. He revealed Himself to everyone and our seminarians strive to receive and reflect His all-inclusive goodness and mercy. Throughout their time in the seminary, our future priests are given opportunities to encounter Christ with and through many people in their pastoral ministry assignments. By ministering to the young, sick, elderly, and poor, and sharing the Good News with the faithful, each seminarian feels a deeper connection to Jesus’ ministry and this leads to greater fruitfulness in his future priestly ministry. As we continue on our Lenten journey, let us thank God for the generous love of His Son. Let us all strive to grow in faith and give witness to that faith to those around us. Sincerely yours in Christ,

“

By letting Christ’s light and love shine through us in our daily lives, we help others to see the joy and freedom that come from discipleship.

”

Archbishop Robert J. Carlson

Most Reverend Robert J. Carlson Archbishop of St. Louis

Spring • 2014 • 3

Pastoral Formation:

Becoming





True Shepherds of Souls By: Joe Kelly, Theology III – Springfield-Cape Girardeau

“I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.” John 10:11

W

hen one hears the word “pastoral,” a few images might come to mind: visiting the sick, spending time with the underprivileged, feeding the hungry in soup kitchens, greeting the people after Sunday Mass, and so forth. We can certainly attribute these images to the word “pastoral.” However, when we take a deeper look at the “pastoral work” of a Catholic priest, we should see something deeper and more profound. We should see the person of Christ Himself ministering to His flock, bringing the Sacraments to the sick and homebound, helping the poor, feeding the hungry, catechizing our youth, and above all, giving His flock the Bread of Life contained in the Eucharist. After nearly six years in seminary formation, these are the images that come to mind when I hear the word “pastoral.” This is not merely because I have taken numerous philosophy and theology classes; it is also because my brother seminarians and I have the opportunity to put what we have learned into practice through the Pastoral Formation program at KenrickGlennon Seminary. Seminarians take part in various “pastoral” activities as part of the seminary formation program. In Cardinal Glennon College, these activities are referred to as “Apostolics”. In the Pre-Theology and Theology programs, they are called “Supervised Ministry” because seminarians work in parishes across the Archdiocese of St. Louis under the supervision of the pastor.

4 • The Herald • 2014

“Apostolics” for the College seminarians cover a variety of formative activities: visiting the homebound in nursing homes, working with children at the after-school program run by the Missionaries of Charity, feeding the hungry in soup kitchens, and teaching in a Parish School of Religion (PSR). Men in the Pre-Theology and Theology programs are exposed to ordinary parish life and focus on a particular aspect of ministry each year. These ministries include youth ministry, work with the parish St. Vincent de Paul Society, bringing Holy Communion to the homebound, and teaching in Catholic schools. Once men have been ordained deacons and enter into their final year of seminary formation, men can preside at baptisms and funerals, witness marriages, and preach at Mass. In each of these ministries, we are given the opportunity to interact with God’s people, meet them where they are, and bring Christ to them. It requires sacrifice, patience, and time, but these are necessary tasks for us to perform in order that we might become conformed to the Heart of Christ, the Good Shepherd. The priest is, like Christ, both Priest and Victim. He must lay down his life for his friends. Although it is vitally important to our formation, spending time in a classroom for hours upon hours is not enough to make us good, holy priests; it is the practice of what we have learned through prayer and study that assists us in becoming a true shepherd of souls. It is in these practices that we learn the value of being a victim, of laying down our lives for the flock, just as Christ has done for us.



Freshmen in Cardinal Glennon College regularly visit local nursing homes as part of their pastoral formation. In this photo Greg Clever, College I – St. Louis, speaks with a resident at St. Agnes Home.

Dan Kavanagh, Theology III – St. Louis, taught 4th graders in the Parish School of Religion (PSR) at St. Clement of Rome Parish in St. Louis during the fall semester.

Nicholas Mishek, Theology I – Omaha, enjoys breakfast and conversation with the priests at St. Ambrose Church, the location of his supervised ministry assignment this year.

Parishioners at St. Ambrose Church receive the Eucharist from Davide Bianchini, Pre-Theology II – St. Louis.

Pope Francis, in speaking on priestly ministry, has said that priests need to be “shepherds living with the smell of the sheep,” metaphorically speaking of course. I once had the opportunity to work with sheep. Yes, they can be smelly. They can also be very timid animals. Anyone who has worked with sheep knows that you must, in a sense, gain their trust. You must feed them, give them water, protect and defend them, handle them, guide them, be amongst them. Only then will you become a good shepherd. It is much the same with pastoral formation. How can a man be a good priest if he does not spend time amongst his flock, feeding them with the sacramental life of the Church, guiding them through difficulties, quenching their thirst for truth and sound doctrine, and simply being with them? Thankfully, this is an essential part of our formation at Kenrick-Glennon Seminary that we, as future priests, have benefitted from tremendously. It has been such a blessing for me to encounter so many of Christ’s flock through this pastoral work. The people I’ve encountered, both young and not-so-young, have such a tremendous desire for Christ. I am so privileged to have been able, in small ways, to communicate Jesus Christ to them in both word and deed; I know I have not done any of this solely by myself. Pope Benedict XVI, in a letter to seminarians in October of 2010 said, “One does not become a priest on one’s own.” How true this is. Without Mary, the saints, and above all, without Christ and the guidance of the Holy Spirit, the priestly ministry would be

sterile and ineffective. I am thankful for the grace God has provided me to grow through pastoral formation. These blessed opportunities reinforce those words we future priests long to hear on the day of our ordination: “May God who has begun the good work in you bring it to fulfillment.”

Typical Pastoral Assignments for Seminarians College I

Visit Nursing Homes

College II

Assist the Missionaries of Charity’s After-School Program

College III

Work in Soup Kitchens

College IV

Teach in Parish School of Religion

Theology I

Work with Youth Groups and/or the Disadvantaged in Parishes

Theology II

Care for Sick and Elderly in Parishes and Minister to the Homebound

Theology III

Serve in Religious Education and Faith Formation in Parishes

Theology IV

Serve as a Deacon in Parish

The Pre-Theologians are invited to assist different groups and charities through student initiative and/or seminary organization. The pastoral formation for the men in Pre-Theology II focuses on their participation in the Eucharistic Liturgy.

Spring • 2014 • 5

BUILD MY CHURCH:

Annual Catholic Appeal [

[ April 26 – May 11, 2014

Shortly after his election, His Holiness Pope Francis called on Catholics worldwide, with St. Francis as an example, “to build up the Church….With [every] movement in our lives, let us build!” Today we see the renewal of faith and the building of our Church from within our own Catholic communities, parishes and schools. Each small act of charity in each small pocket of faith is like leaven in the loaf.

By making a pledge to the Annual Catholic Appeal, you provide the tools to fulfill Christ’s command to Build My Church. Your generosity supports Catholic education, youth programs and retreats, marriage preparation, the education and formation of our priests and deacons, while establishing many other channels of grace. Building the Church is a spiritual endeavor to strengthen faith through service to the poor, those who are homeless and hungry, the sick and those imprisoned by poverty in its many forms.

Andrew Auer, College III – St. Louis

Last March Pope Francis delivered a homily on Holy Thursday that speaks to the pastoral life of the priest. The message can be summarized in a word as the Holy Father begs, “This I ask you: be shepherds, with the ‘odor of the sheep’, make it real, as shepherds among your flock, fishers of men.” As the junior class serves at the soup kitchen we have the opportunity, figuratively, to merely smell the sheep from a distance, or leave with their stench. Though sometimes exhausting, we, as a class, continue to immerse ourselves into the sheepfold, sharing the many blessings Our Lord has bestowed upon us.

Peter Fonseca, Theology III – St. Louis

Mother Teresa commented “every person is Christ for me, and since there is only one Jesus, there is only one person in the world for me at that moment.” Blessed to serve in an inner city parish striving for a deeper relationship with Christ, often in the midst of great darkness, I am called to be the hands of Christ by simply recognizing Christ before me present in each particular person and in charity strive to be a mirror reflecting Christ’s image back to them in their particular situation.

Jack Ruzicka, College I – St. Louis

“Whatever you do, never stop praying. Keep the faith.” This is what Auggie said as he sternly looked me in the eye. He and I met for four weeks every Tuesday at Little Sisters of the Poor Nursing Home. Freshman Year in Cardinal Glennon College, we visit with residents at Catholic nursing homes throughout St. Louis. They teach me how to be the hands of Christ on earth because they show me what it means to be compassionate and gentle. Through their example, I learn how to imitate Christ.

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HOMILETICS: The Art of Preaching By: Deacon Anthony Saiki, Theology IV – Kansas City, KS

D

uring the Liturgy of the Word at Holy Mass, we receive instruction from God Himself. While Sacred Scripture is in and of itself a powerful source of prayer, it is often necessary and helpful for the objective truth offered in Sacred Scripture to be applied to our own situation in life. This is where the homily is a tremendous tool.

This year I have been serving as a deacon at St. At Kenrick-Glennon Seminary we are required to take two semesters of Homiletics: an introductory course Cecilia’s Parish in St. Louis. This is a unique assignment in which we learn to preach with the Sunday Cycle of because it is the personal parish for Spanish speakers in readings, and an advanced course in which we learn to the Archdiocese. This has been a wonderful opportunity for me to practice preaching preach event homilies, such in both English and Spanish. as weddings and funerals. The skills that I have learned Fr. Don Wester, Class of at the seminary have been 1978 – St. Louis, and pastor very useful, and the people at of All Saints Catholic Church the parish respond well to my in St. Peters, MO, serves as homilies. Professor of Homiletics. I have learned that I need Along with learning how to to integrate catechesis into make eye contact, good voice my preaching. There are so projection, and inflection, many souls in the pews that the student of homiletics do not know the Faith due learns how to interact with to the lack of opportunities Scripture, and how to apply for catechesis. The preacher its objective truths to a will reach most people only particular community. during Sunday Mass, so he We are taught to use Lectio has to make the most of each Divina as part of homily homily. In our secular culture, preparation. This method of we all need to know what we prayer is very helpful in believe, and why we believe it. preparing a homily as the This is the challenge that preacher prayerfully reads the preachers face today: how to daily Mass readings multiple Deacon Saiki delivers a homily in the seminary chapel. best utilize the homily to times. For me, this process begins several days before I preach and can take multiple edify God’s People, form them in the Faith, and thus periods of prayer. After meditating on the readings, I am foster their encounter with Christ. then able to form the homily, all the while considering my audience, the People of God, to whom I will be preaching.

Spring • 2014 • 7

Priest

Prayer Partners

“

Behind and before every vocation to the priesthood or the consecrated life, there is always the strong and intense prayer of someone: a grandmother, a grandfather, a mother, a father, a community. Pope Francis

”

We invite you to join us in praying for the needs of our future priests and our seminary community. Each week will bring an intention held up by the seminary. The list of intentions will be updated online each month at www.kenrick.edu/prayer. It is the hope of the seminary community that you will take each intention into your personal prayer time and to your Eucharistic celebration intentions. May our journey of intercession for others bring joy and delight in our hearts and the Father’s heart.

Practicum By: Deacon Andrew Walsh, Theology IV – Wichita

A

third grade student recently asked me if I hear confessions. I said, “yes and no,” and explained that, since I was not a priest, I could not hear confessions; however, I am preparing to be ordained a priest, so I practice hearing confessions as part of my seminary formation. It is similar to the way young Catholics prepare to receive the sacraments of Eucharist and Reconciliation. Then, as now, we experience a slight anxiety about what to do and what to say. Now, as priest candidates, our preparation takes on a new perspective and increased importance. As priests, we will baptize, anoint, marry couples, hear confessions, and celebrate Mass. Administering the sacraments is no easy task. Therefore, we take the time in the seminary to learn about the rites and practice with experienced priests. This fall, my classmates and I heard practice confessions each week from priest facilitators who prepared cases that they would enact. My first practice confessions were filled with the nervous anxiety of attempting something new, the same feeling I had when I approached Reconciliation for the first time at the age of eight. Gradually, I reached a sort of comfort with the process through repetition. This semester, our class is practicing the celebration of Mass. Unlike Reconciliation, we have assisted at Mass many times as Deacons and before that, as servers. The majority of our class became servers at a young age. This acquainted us with the church sanctuary and the structure of the Mass. Now we refine the natural and acquired poise we have through focusing on the finer points of the Mass: gestures, postures, movements, and prayers. To accomplish this, we practice in front of our priest instructor (who thinks of himself as our “coach”) and our fellow Deacons. Frequently there are mistakes and often laughter from instructor and classmates. Through it all there is a sense that we, as soon-to-be priests, are approaching our role with seriousness, appreciation, and excitement.

Deacon Walsh practices the celebration of Mass in the Sacramental Practice Lab.

8 • The Herald • 2014

An Interview with Fr. Tom Molini

s

Eliot Schwer, Theology II – Omaha, recently sat down with Fr. Thomas Molini, Class of 1985 – St. Louis, to interview him about his new position as Director of Pastoral Formation. Fr. Molini is a seasoned pastor (currently of St. Gerard Majella Parish in Kirkwood, MO) and has previous seminary experience in this area of formation. “Fr. Molini is an inspiring example for our seminarians as they learn, under the direction of the Holy Spirit, to configure their own hearts to the heart of Jesus Christ. Fr. Molini will help these men gain the skills and experience needed to pour themselves out in faith and love in service to their parishioners,” said Archbishop Robert J. Carlson in a memo announcing Fr. Molini’s appointment..

Q1: What is your primary responsibility as

Q4: What are some things you could share about your

Director of Pastoral Formation at the seminary? My responsibilities include placing students in their pastoral assignments, coordinating their assignment evaluations and working with their supervisors at the parishes. I also encourage the interiorizing of their experiences in the form of theological reflections where they share how an event at their assignment impacted them and what they have learned from it.

own discernment process and formation experiences? I went into seminary not being sure if I was called to the priesthood, but I felt I needed to give it the attention such a call deserved. During my second year of college, I had a true sense that this is where I belonged. The longer I stayed, the more I knew the priesthood was for me. Sometimes the best formation came in the form of my peers. I owe a lot to some of the men I was discerning with and the challenges they offered me.

s

Q2: What is your vision for Pastoral Formation? Right before my time as Vice Rector, Bl. Pope John Paul II’s apostolic exhortation Pastores Dabo Vobis had been given. Paragraph 57 states, “The whole formation imparted to candidates for the priesthood aims at preparing them to enter into communion with the charity of Christ the good shepherd. Hence their formation in its different aspects must have a fundamentally pastoral character.” The four pillars of formation (human, spiritual, pastoral and academic) are ordered to pastoral ministry so it is a unifying element for priestly formation.

s

Q3: What do you see as the spirituality behind these activities? It’s a pouring out of one’s life as Christ, the Good Shepherd, has done for us. The seminarian should be asking the Lord and himself, “Am I truly pouring myself out in the ministry?”

s

Q5: What are some of the moments you have come to cherish in being a pastor? I really enjoy First Communions and seeing the joy of the children as they receive the Eucharist for the first time and the excitement of their families. I also find it delightful to hear couples in marriage preparation talk about how they will incorporate the faith into their married life.

s

Q6: What are some of the things you enjoy doing in your free time? I like to work in the vegetable and herb garden at the rectory and I like to cook. I cook primarily Italian recipes but will try other things. I wouldn’t say I am a professional chef but just a persistent cook.

Spring • 2014 • 9

v

v

The Heart of Catechesis:

JESUS CHRIST By: Sister Adriane Torrisi, SDSH

Last year’s celebration of the Year of Faith highlighted the treasure of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Promulgated in 1992 by Pope John Paul II, the Catechism is a major resource for the development of local catechisms throughout the Church. Many catechetical texts and techniques continue to be published pointing to the reality that religious education is a significant and vital ministry in the Church. Religious education is not merely learning facts and things about our faith. While these are important we are not teaching a subject about “something;” we are providing a catechesis that introduces students to a lifelong dynamic, personal relationship with Someone, a Person! “At the heart of catechesis we find, in essence, a Person, the Person of Jesus….the definitive aim of catechesis is to put people…in communion, in intimacy, with Jesus Christ: only

He can lead us to the love of the Father in the Spirit and make us share in the life of the Holy Trinity.” John Paul II, Catechesi Tradendae 5, see also Catechism 426 My community, the Society Devoted to the Sacred Heart, teaches our seminarians classes on catechesis and religious education. They learn practical methods, honing and developing skills as catechists according to the Heart of Our Lord. The courses provide a systematic pedagogy based on how the human person learns through five faculties of the soul, encouraging catechists to build upon this process of learning by engaging the imagination, intellect, emotions, will and memory. As a foundation, seminarians learn the Five-Step Illustrated Method developed by our foundress, Sister Ida Peterfy. They teach in a dynamic way, explaining the essential truths of faith through dialogue, accompanied by illustrative techniques to help students understand and apply the doctrine. The Method offers an effective way for the seminarians to harmonize theological knowledge with skills that enable them to convey the “Good News” in an interesting and appealing way that is age and stage appropriate. “Priests are vital catechetical leaders by virtue of their ordination.” National Directory for Catechesis, 269 Essential to the life of our future priests is bringing the gift of God’s Word to His people, preaching and teaching the faith animated by their love for Christ. As a community whose charism is catechesis, it is a joy to see seminarians’ catechetical skills develop as they teach and bring the love of God to the People of God.

Carl Heinrich Block, The Sermon on the Mount, 1877

10 • The Herald • 2014 2013

COMMUNITY

Notes CONVIVIUM MASS and

DINNER AUCTION From left to right: Guests Gary and Jane Wibbenmeyer with 2013 Convivium Co-Chairs Vince and Marianne Burkemper.

The entire seminary community is very grateful to all those who contributed to and attended the annual Convivium Dinner Auction held on November 16, 2013 at The Cedars. Through the generosity of many friends, over $200,000 was raised for the seminary’s annual operations, student activities, and the Holy Land Retreat and Pilgrimage. Thank you to our most generous friends for supporting our future priests as they joyfully and prayerfully prepare to lead the Church in Christ’s love.

Seminarians Arick Middeke, College III – St. Louis (far left) and Cole Bestgen, College I – St. Louis (far right) with their mothers at Convivium.

Save the Date for the next Convivium on Saturday, November 1, 2014. We look forward to seeing you at this fun- and faith-filled evening!

SOULS AND GOALS SOCCER



From left to right: Fr. Kevin Schroeder, Class of 2008 – St. Louis, and Andrew Bina, Theology III – Wichita, compete during the “Souls and Goals” soccer game.

The first annual “Souls and Goals” Soccer Cup Challenge was held on November 7th at St. Dominic High School in O’Fallon, MO. The Kenrick-Glennon Seminary Lions competed against Clergy & Company, a team of priests, deacons and a few of their friends, in this match designed in part to raise awareness of vocations. More than 1,000 people gathered to cheer both teams and see the Lions pull off a 2-0 victory. “Athletic activity, in fact, when practiced in the right way, tends to develop strength, proficiency, resistance, and harmony, while favoring at the same time interior growth, becoming a school of loyalty, courage, endurance, tenacity, and brotherhood.” ~Pope John Paul II

Advent Novena

Kenrick-Glennon Seminary was pleased to welcome so many friends during the Advent Novena in the Chapel of St. Joseph between December 4th and 12th. The Novena was a beautiful way for the extended seminary community to come together for prayer and worship in preparation for the joy and splendor of Christmas. Each night of the Novena included prayer, Scripture, a reflective homily, and hymns led by the seminarian choir.

Spring • 2014 • 11

COMMUNITY

Notes

w In Memoriam

Please pray for the repose of the souls of our priestalumni and former administrators who have passed away in recent months: Fr. John P. Comer, Class of 1964– St. Louis

Fr. Ralph J. Duffner, Class of 1956 – Springfield-Cape Girardeau Fr. Aloysius A. Forst, Class of 1949– St. Louis

Fr. Edward J. Hilgeman, Class of 1952– St. Louis Fr. Paul J. Kersgieter, Class of 1945– St. Louis

Fr. James C. Marshall, Class of 1959– St. Louis Fr. Raymond J. Oge, Class of 1967 – St. Louis

Msgr. Edward W. Reilly, Class of 1954– St. Louis

Spotlight Mr. John Federer, Principal/Broker for Trident Group LLC, Most Rev. David D. Kagan D.D., P.A., J.C.L., Bishop of Bismarck, and Mrs. Virginia Klein, Executive Director of the Institute of Integrated Rural Development North America, have joined the Kenrick-Glennon Seminary Board of Trustees. Mercer University Press recently published a book written by Dr. Randall G. Colton, Professor of Philosophy at Cardinal Glennon College. Dr. Colton’s book Repetition and the Fullness of Time: Gift, Task, and Narrative in Kierkegaard’s Upbuilding Ethics was released as part of the Mercer Kierkegarrd Studies series and is available for purchase on amazon.com. Fr. Thomas Michael Fangman Jr., Class of 1992 – Omaha, was awarded the prestigious Court of Honor Award on October 19 by the Knights of Ak-Sar-Ben Foundation in Omaha. The organization recognizes and celebrates volunteerism, philanthropy and community pride. Fr. Fangman received the award in recognition of his many years of service in the North Omaha community and his commitment to education.

Msgr. Edward C. Eichor

“I have always loved being a priest and bringing God to others and others to God. I am so glad that God called me to this wonderful life. God has given me wonderful people in my life to love and support me,” - Msgr. Eichor told the St. Louis Review in 2009 on the occasion of his 50th jubilee. Kenrick-Glennon Seminary recently received a generous bequest from the estate of Msgr. Edward C. Eichor, Class of 1959, who passed away on May 26, 2010. Msgr. Eichor was a faithful priest of the Archdiocese of St. Louis and a Kenrick-Glennon Seminary recently received a generous bequest from the estate of Msgr. Edward C. Eichor, former educator with a long association with the seminary. He touched the Class of 1959, who passed away on May 26, 2010. lives of countless people with the love of the heart of Jesus Christ throughout Msgr. Eichor was a faithful priest of the Archdiocese of St. Louis and a former educator with a long his life. His bequest will continue to bless the seminary for years to come. association with the seminary. He touched the lives of countless people with the love of the heart of Jesus Christ If you wish to leave a legacy that supports our future priests, like Msgr. Eichor, throughout his life. His bequest will continue to bless the seminary for years to come. you can ensure that your commitment to the priesthood is shared and realized If you wish to leave a legacy that supports our future priests, like Msgr. Eichor, you can ensure that your long into the future by making a planned gift to Kenrick-Glennon Seminary. commitment to the priesthood is shared and realized long into the future by making a planned gift to KenrickFor more information, please contact Kate Guyol, Development Director, at Glennon Seminary. For more information, please contact Kate Guyol, Development Director, at 314-792-7435 314-792-7435 or [email protected]. or [email protected].

12 • The Herald • 2014

Holy Rollers Bowling Team

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By: Brett Judkins, Theology II – Belleville

he Kenrick-Glennon Seminary bowling team, a.k.a, “The Holy Rollers,” began its second season in September. Through changing lineups and a temporary change in venue for part of the season, the team has been anchored by the guiding hand of its founder and captain, Theodore Bauer, Pre-Theology II – St. Louis, who also serves as president of the Monday night league at the local Shrewsbury Lanes, just down the street from the seminary. From its inception, the bowling team has been a tremendous example of the leisure and fraternity that are so essential to healthy formation in the seminary. Being a member of the bowling team also provides a great witness to the Gospel in the midst of everyday life, which aids the Church in her work of evangelization and reaching out to those who are not Catholic or who have stopped practicing the faith. And did I mention that it’s a lot of fun?

Msgr. Witt Radio Series on

St. Louis Church History



Msgr. Michael John Witt, Class of 1990 – St. Louis and Professor of Church History, is in the process of recording an audio series with the Covenant Network about the history of the Archdiocese of St. Louis. This will include more than 100 half hour programs which will start with the Jolliet-Marquette expedition to explore the Mississippi River in 1673 and follow the Archdiocese’s history at least to the Papal Visit of 1999. These half-hour recordings with Covenant Network are to be added to the 169 hour-long programs on general Catholic Church history which are being aired currently. Stay tuned to Covenant Network and the Seminary website (www.kenrick.edu) for more information.

Members of the bowling team (from left to right) Brett Judkins, Theology II – Belleville, Dane Westhoff, Pre-Theology I – St. Louis, T.J. Bauer, Pre-Theology II – St. Louis, and Brian Straus, Pre-Theology II – Springfield-Cape Girardeau, meet for practice.

Welcoming

FR. MASON Father James Mason will be joining the seminary community as the Director of Spiritual Formation in August 2014. Fr. Mason has served in various roles throughout the Diocese of Sioux Falls since his ordination in 2001: Director of Catholic Charities, Legal Counsel, Medical-Moral Advisor, Vice Chancellor and Director of Vocations. He has a certificate in Spiritual Direction and Retreat Ministry at the Institute of Priestly Formation where he worked on the Board and has taught a course entitled, “The Spirituality of the Diocesan Priesthood.” Fr. Mason is currently Director of Broom Tree Retreat Center and Pastor of St. Lambert Parish in Sioux Falls. Look for more information about Fr. Mason and his new role in the next issue of The Herald.

Spring • 2014 • 13

2014 HOLY LAND Retreat and Pilgrimage



In January, the deacons in their final year of seminary formation participated in the Second Annual Holy Land Retreat and Pilgrimage. Their journey began with a five-day canonical retreat (required for Ordination to the Priesthood) on the Mount of Beatitudes. Following the retreat, the deacons had time to visit Jerusalem and various sites in the Holy Land. The opportunity to walk in the footsteps of Christ was a life changing experience for the deacons and something that will enrich their ministry for the rest of their lives.

The deacons and their retreat leaders visit Mount Tabor, where Jesus took Peter, James and John and was gloriously transfigured in their sight.

Deacon Colin Blatchford – Knoxville As we know, Christ was fully God and fully man. For me, the fully God part has always been the emphasis; however, I now have a deeper understanding of his full humanity. The way I prepare for my preaching has already changed. I am better able to paint a picture for the people in the pews of what the world of Jesus was really like and how it is the same/different from the time we live in now. Our visit to the Chapel of the Visitation was quite memorable. When you walk in, you see the well where Mary would likely have met Elizabeth, overjoyed yet alarmed by her news. What really hit me here is the thought of Mary’s emotions as a pregnant teenager and mother of God. What advice did Elizabeth provide? Mary’s fiat was total, and, even though her will was in control of her emotions because she was without sin, I wondered, What emotions were running through her mind? The unique closeness to Our Lady I felt in that place has yet to leave me. Deacon Yoelvis Gonzalez – Memphis Traveling to the Holy Land was an awesome experience! Praying in the places where our Lord prayed and in the places where the greatest events of our redemption took place really was an experience beyond words. The highlight of my journey was praying very early in the morning in front of Calvary–I will never forget that experience.

Celebrating Mass at an outdoor altar on the Mount of Beatitudes.

14 • The Herald • 2014

Deacon David Hogan – St. Louis It was during our pilgrimage to the Holy Land that Christ invited me into a greater understanding of His humanity. I could concretely see the places He stayed, preached, and rested from Galilee to Jerusalem. One experience that was particularly moving happened early in the morning when a classmate and I went to the Holy Sepulchre to pray our holy hour in silence. Without the noise of the crowds, I could take the time to contemplate this profound mystery of Jesus dying for the forgiveness of our sins in this very place, expecting nothing in return except our love. Deacon Conor Sullivan – St. Louis One of my favorite places on our pilgrimage was the Basilica of the Annunciation in Nazareth. This is likely the place where Gabriel visited Mary, and Mary responded with “Be it done unto me according to thy word.” The traditional words of part of the Angelus read: Et verbum caro factum est (“And the word became flesh”) yet an inscription on an altar at the Church was different by one word: Verbum caro hic factum est, which translates: “The word became flesh here.” Reading these words in person struck me profoundly. It was here that our Blessed Mother said ‘yes,’ to God’s plan for humanity. It was here that our Savior was conceived. It was here where our Lord really walked, taught, performed miracles, died and rose from the dead. I will not soon forget that moment, nor will I soon forget the entire pilgrimage; I am incredibly thankful to those who made it possible. Deacon Jaime Zarse – Kansas City, KS The experience of walking in the footsteps of Christ, his mother and the Apostles has already changed the way I read Scripture. One of my most powerful experiences of Christ came at the Sea of Galilee as I reflected on Jesus calling the first priests, Peter, James, John and Andrew, from that very place, 2000 years ago. There were many other highlights as well:  Awe inspiring: watching a sun set from the shores of the Sea of Galilee  Funny: riding a camel on a hill in Jericho  Moving: participating in Mass at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre  Unexpected: Getting to spend several hours in prayer at Mt. Calvary and the Holy Sepulchre each morning

Deacons Colin Blatchford, Michael Buckley, David Hogan, Ben Boyd, Jamie Zarse and Christopher Aubuchon step into the Sea of Galilee.

Deacons Ryan Weber, Conor Sullivan, Anthony Saiki and Tom Vordtriede take in a panoramic view of the city of Jerusalem near Dominus Flevit Church.

Deacon Anthony Saiki rides a camel in Jericho, the most ancient city in the Holy Land.

The deacons for the Archdiocese of St. Louis- Deacons Conor Sullivan, David Hogan, Paul Hamilton, Ryan Weber, Andrew Burkemper, and Tom Vordtriedeon the Mount of Beatitudes.

Deacons Ben Boyd and Jaime Zarse took a boat ride with the other deacons on the Sea of Galilee.

Spring • 2014 • 15

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CALENDAR

of Events

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APRIL April 11-13 “Come and See” Weekend Sunday, April 20 Easter Thursday, April 24 Installation of Reader - Theology II Saturday, April 26 Cardinal Glennon College Trivia Night

MAY Thursday, May 1 Installation of Acolyte – Theology I Saturday, May 3 Ordination to the Transitional Diaconate, Archdiocese of St. Louis Monday, May 5 Last Day of Classes for Cardinal Glennon College Friday, May 9 Last Day of Classes for Kenrick School of Theology Saturday, May 10 Kenrick School of Theology Graduation Mass Friday, May 16 Cardinal Glennon College Graduation Mass Saturday, May 24 Ordination to the Priesthood, Archdiocese of St. Louis

AUGUST

Under the guidance of the Holy Spirit and to the glory of God the Father, we seek each seminarian’s configuration to the Heart of Jesus Christ, High Priest and Shepherd, so that he can shepherd wholeheartedly with Christ’s pastoral charity.

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August 18-22 Orientation

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Monday, August 25 Classes begin

SEPTEMBER Thursday, September 4 Mass of the Holy Spirit

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Kenrick-Glennon Seminary is a proper ecclesial community of the Archdiocese of Saint Louis preparing men for the ministerial priesthood of Jesus Christ in the Catholic Church.